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Transgender leg augmentation

One choice for masculinization surgery is using implants to make your legs look bigger.

Note: You can make muscles in your legs bigger with exercise and weight training. Being on testosterone can help, too. You should not do surgery unless everything else does not work.

Background

The origins of leg augmentation date back to the mid-20th century, when silicone prosthetics were first developed for reconstructive surgery following injury or congenital defects such as poliomyelitis or clubfoot. By the 1970s, surgeons began adapting these techniques for cosmetic enhancement, particularly calf augmentation to improve leg contour in individuals with underdeveloped gastrocnemius muscles. Advances in implant materials, such as cohesive silicone elastomers and biocompatible shells, improved both safety and aesthetic outcomes. By the 1990s and 2000s, surgical leg augmentation became a more standardized procedure, aided by refinements in surgical access through small incisions behind the knee and improved fixation methods.

Types and techniques

There are several primary types of leg augmentation, varying by location and purpose:

  • Calf Augmentation: The most common form, involving the insertion of solid silicone implants either subfascially (beneath the muscle fascia) or submuscularly (under the gastrocnemius muscle) to increase definition and fullness.
  • Thigh Augmentation: Less common, this procedure enhances the contour of the upper leg, sometimes using fat grafting or soft silicone implants.
  • Fat Grafting (Lipofilling): Involves transferring purified fat from other body areas into the calves or thighs for moderate volume increase and natural feel.

Calf implants

Calf implants are available in several styles sizes. They are often sold as non-sterile and sterile. Many are packaged and sold individually. Depending on your needs, the surgeon may use one or two implants (medial and lateral) in each leg.

An incision is made behind the knee to put them in. People who have had is done say recovery hurts a lot.

Manufacturers

Implantech (implantech.com)

  • Calf implants
  • implantech.com/product-category/products/body-contouring-implants/calf-implants/

Alpha Aesthetics (alphaaesthetics.com)

GC Aesthetics (gcaesthetics.com)

POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH (polytech-health-aesthetics.com)

  • Our calf implants
  • polytech-health-aesthetics.com/en/pro/body-contouring/calf-implants/

Alpha Aesthetics Body Contouring Implants (alphaaesthetics.com)

Surgeons

Visage Clinic (visageclinic.com)

  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Marc DuPéré

Resources

Bodyimplants.com (bodyimplants.com)

Historical resources

SEBBIN (sebbin.com) – former calf implant manufacturer

Sientra (sientra.com) – former calf implant manufacturer